Well, as promised – me on the telebox. Unfortunately they cut most of our little chat out of the final production.

When I recall that Bryan’s idea of approaching this woman was as a potential “partner” I watch this video and accept that I am probably, no, certainly the worlds worst wingman. In fairness, things quickly changed when she started asking for money to “save the dogs” she had offensively white teeth and sure as hell didn’t seem like she was interested in this “charity” business.

As there is no translation, it goes a little bit like this, she writes on a sign she needs money for new summer shoes in Latvian, she hassles us (tourists) for money to save the dogs, we are totally sceptical and a tiny bit obnoxious and she comes clean admitting shes trying to scam us, there is a camera over there and we win.YAY. I’m sure it says I am a Brazilian  will have to get it translated.

SKIP to 21 minutes.

Tikai ar ielūgumiem TV3 Play – 1 from Paul Gaston on Vimeo.

Well, I am certainly glad I chose to stop by this city, I already fell in love with it. I don’t think it will be the last time I visit this place, everything I love about Eastern Europe is right here.

Just a few thoughts, this country only has a couple of million people. It’s quite a crazy thought! Seems to be a good mixture of Russians and Latvians here with the Russian women fairly noticeable about town, its like the idea of a sexy western woman gone horribly wrong but I guess it works for them!

I hung out with my host who is friendly enough but when his friend joined us he was a bit concerned about his English, well being in Latvia, what job do you think this girl had? I don’t know if you are familiar with those online video casinos with the women welcoming guests to the virtual game in a rather fetching outfit and dealing cards or spinning roulette tables” but if you are, you will know that 90% of the time they feature an Eastern European! Well now I have met one in real life, I am very happy to cross it off my list.

Onions – Not quite figured this one out yet but the country seems divided on this one. About half the population HATES onions, not managed to trace the origin of this one yet.

Birch tree Juice – Think council pop only filtered through a tree. Actually this home made drink is probably the freshest tasting water I have had in my life and a tiny bit sweet. Apparently good for hangovers. Tap a birch tree, collect the juice.  Job done.

Big lumps of ice floating down the river and you have everything you could possibly need from a city. Sold!

View at Picasa 14-Apr-2013 15:40, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.063 sec, ISO 640	View at Picasa 15-Apr-2013 16:06, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 64	View at Picasa 15-Apr-2013 16:07, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 64
View at Picasa 15-Apr-2013 16:08, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 64	View at Picasa 16-Apr-2013 11:41, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 64	View at Picasa 14-Apr-2013 15:32, Sony Ericsson SK17i, 2.6, 3.5mm, 0.063 sec, ISO 320

Think I will get myself back to Poland as my wonderful toe op is coming back to haunt  me.

First impressions of this city are – WOW, its the perfect mixture of a grand and gorgeous old town and post nuclear bomb. As I came into the city there were some huge industrial building that have been abandoned and it really did look like a waste land,add in the huge rivers of ice, rusty metal walls and scavenging birds and its quite a special feeling. Plenty of nasty communistic blocks of flats as well but the centre is  impressive to say the least.

I am going to love this city, I can already feel it. It has a lot more life than Tallinn.

I arrived at my hosts only to discover he lives in a fantastic old building, its ancient and absolutely huge with a miner style lift that I will most certainly never be going in. The flat is gigantic and empty and it seems this is an Artists place given all the easels and paint pots every where. An overly friendly cat has also been hanging off my arm since I arrived. Hopefully me and my host will get along as I already feel quite comfortable here.

I guess a crack den is my natural habitat.

Leaving Estonia today, I am sat in Parnu waiting for a coach to Riga, I found myself a couch surfer who will be putting me up for the next few days, not really sure how long I plan on staying in Riga but I sense good things!

I’m the worlds worst fugitive today, fleeing across the border to evade my 12 euro bus fine.